Monocled Alchemist

L.A. Sounds 1965-1969: Selected 100 Jewels, Part Three

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: In 2010 I completed my list of 100 nuggets from Los Angeles. It was a list of some of my favourite records released during 1965-68, all of which have made a massive impression on me over the years.

I’m pretty sure that regular visitors to my site know the kind of music bag I’m into, especially my love for 12 string janglers, fuzz and farfisa combos, protest singers and folk rockers. Yeah, you get the picture – Destination COOL!! 

I decided to indulge myself with 100 jewels from Los Angeles (and the surrounding areas) and like before I will only list songs that I have on original vinyl or a decent vinyl reissue.

The Flower Pot – ’Black Moto’/’Mr. Zig Zag Man’ (Vault V-935) 1967

Songwriter and session man on many L.A records, Mike Deasy cut loose on his own with two 45s billed as The Flower Pot on Vault Records.

You’ll also find releases by Friar Tuck and The Ceyleib People with heavy Mike Deasy involvement including his usual array of session cohorts a.k.a ’The Wrecking Crew’.

The flip of the record ’Black Moto’ is an LSD infused eastern raga drone heavily influenced by the more psychedelic and experimental efforts by Donovan.

Quite what it all means, I don’t know. I’ll leave it up to the listener.

’Mr Zig Zag Man’ is a pleasant psychedelic pop song.

The W.C. Fields Memorial Electric String Band – ’I’m Not Your Stepping Stone’/’Round World’ (Mercury 72578) June 1966

I’ve given ’Flower Bomb Songs’ exposure to the groups other releases in the past so check out the archives for more information.

This was their debut 45 and is a rockin’ early version of ’Stepping Stone’ produced by the erstwhile Norm Ratner who’s name crops up on many Los Angeles recordings.

The flip ’Round World’ is a folk rock gem.

This release was a Billboard spotlight release in a June 1966 edition.

The Green Beans – ‘(Don’t Give Me No) Friction’/’Superstition’ (Mercury 72504) Oct 1965

Whenever my girlfriend asks me to help her with the housework this cool song by The Green Beans comes into my head. 

‘(Don’t Give Me No) Friction’ was produced by Mike Curb and according to Davie Allan’s official website he confirms that he played session guitar on both Green Beans 45s.

’Friction’ was famously covered by Australian cavemen The Missing Links.

The Green Beans released a follow up on Tower Records ’Who Needs You’/’Knock On My Door (Tap On My Window)’ and some copies came housed in a picture sleeve showing this outfit looking like 50s throwbacks with dodgy green rocker hair.

Caretakers Of Deception – ’Cuttin’ Grass’/’X+Y=13’ (Sanctus SS-12) 1967

First of all, what a fucking GREAT name for a group!!! So it’s fingers crossed that such a fantastically named combo had the sound to match and I’m pleased to say that our forgotten heroes certainly had that.

The Caretakers Of Deception are believed to come from the Los Angeles area (at least the record label Sanctus guides me to L.A.) ’Cuttin’ Grass’ is an awesome garage hymn with manic surging hallucinogenic organ, primitive guitar and pissed off vocals. These opening lines are spat out by the vexed singer:

”It’s hard enough for me to see
When you’ve taken my eyes from me.
Thrown them in the filth on the street
You crush them on the floor”

The flip and cryptically named ’X+Y=13’ calms things down slightly but it’s still edgy 12 string folk garage of the highest order with lavish farfisa moodiness. I feel honoured to be able to listen to this greatness albeit via my bootleg from the ’garage greats’ 45 series.

The Hard Times – ’Fortune Teller’/’Goodbye’ (World Pacific 77851) Nov 1966

Originally from San Diego, The Hard Times relocated in ’66 to Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills and took up residence in a house owned by Denny Doherty from The Mamas and the Papas.

They quickly established themselves on the Sunset Strip getting regular gigs at The Sea Witch eventually becoming the house band at The Whisky A Go-Go then at The Cinnamon Cinder.

The Hard times were also regulars on TV Show ’Where The Action Is’ and there is currently a lip synched performance of ’Fortune Teller’ from that show on You Tube as we speak.

’Fortune Teller’ reached the Top 100 in the Billboard chart at the end of December 1966 but no further success followed despite a well received studio album in ’67.

The Doors – ’Light My Fire’/’The Crystal Ship’ (Elektra EK-45615) May 1967

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Being led by someone as mysterious and enigmatic as lead singer and front man Jim Morrison meant that The Doors could never fail. 

’Light My Fire’ sold in millions making them a household name but were they any better as a unit than many of the other groups I’ve featured so far in this Los Angeles mix.

The answer is no of course, The Doors were lucky to have Jim Morrison, he made the difference it’s as simple as that.

The flip ’The Crystal Ship’ has always had the knack to cast my mind adrift mainly because of the opening lyrics that set the tone for this strange and beguiling tune. ’The Crystal Ship’ would be perfect for a funeral.

”Before you slip into unconsciousness
I’d like to have another kiss
Another flashing chance at bliss
Another kiss, another kiss”

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

The Leaves – ’Hey Joe’/’Girl From The East’ (Mira Records 222) May 1966

Los Angeles group The Leaves hit the big time with their version of ’Hey Joe’ which they recorded three times, each one distinctly different from the other – the promo single, the stock single and the Mira 222 release (also the same version on their hastily released studio album).

The first version was cut as far back as November 1965 but for me it’s their 3rd attempt complete with a wild Bobby Arlin fuzztoned guitar break that is the winner.

The flip is ’Girl From The East’, a pleasant folk rock ballad written by Hollywood face Bobby Jameson.

He also cut his own ’Girl From The East’ and this choice original can be found on the Chris Lucey a.k.a Bobby Jameson album ’Songs Of Protest And Anti Protest’.

The Palace Guard – ’All Night Long’/’Playgirl’ (Orange Empire Records OE-331) Aug 1965

Now for my favourite musical genre -folk rock/12 string janglers and none better than this gem by The Palace Guard who mixed merseybeat with folk rock to rather great effect on ’All Night Long’ and achieved a deserved local hit in Los Angeles but remained unknown beyond southern California.

They were a big attraction in L.A, becoming the house band at the Hullabaloo Club in Hollywood despite wearing ridiculous Buckingham Palace style guard uniforms.

Somebody’s Chyldren – ’I’m Going Back To New York City’/’Shadows’ (Uptown 727) April 1966

These teenagers from Los Angeles were originally known as The Offbeats and were led by whizz kid David Clark Allen.

The band changed their name to the more happening Somebody’s Chyldren sometime in ’66 and released this fine 45 on Uptown.

’I’m Going Back To New York City’ is a powerful garage pop mover with some neat lead guitar, heavy bass and excellent production. The flip ’Shadows’ is a sweet psychedelic folk tune.

Somebody’s Chyldren had two songs, ’I’m Up’ and ’Marionettes’ on the ’Hellcats’ soundtrack released on Tower Records in 1967.

They were also Mae West’s backing band on her ’Way Out West’ LP. I’ve not heard the latter but I’ll be surprised if the resulting music is worthwhile.

Most of the members of Somebody’s Chyldren went on to form Marianne in the late 60s.

Somebody’s Chyldren were:

David Clark Allen
Dennis Trerotola
Paul Dobies
Ricky Cameron

Thee Midniters – ’Never Knew I Had It So Bad’/’The Walking Song’ (Whittier Records 504) Jan 1967

East Los Angeles had a host of great 60s groups and perhaps the most well known were Thee Midniters.

They had a command of a wide range of musical styles but it’s their up-tempo garage ravers that make the EXPO67 playlist.

’Never Knew I Had It So Bad’ is classic garage rock medicine complete with a snarling fuzztone tirade.

The song has sadly evaded compilers apart from an outing years ago on ’A Journey To Tyme Volume 2’

Sean & the Brandywines – ’She Ain’t No Good’/’Cod’ine’ (Decca 31910) January 1966

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Little is known about Sean and the Brandywines, indeed they only left this one Gary Usher produced 45 behind. According to ’Teenbeat Mayhem’ they were from Tujunga, California.

’She Ain’t No Good’ is a choice cover version originally recorded by London mods The Knack. The latter group were signed to Decca records in England so it’s not inconceivable that the song was given to their American associates for consideration.

Another London outfit The Clique also recorded ’She Ain’t No Good’ in 1965. The other side (not sure which was the top side) is a fine folk rock rendition of ’Cod’ine’.

By the way, if you look at the picture of the 45 you’ll see a price tag of 5 cents. I paid a lot more for it a couple of years ago!

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

Clear Light – ’Black Roses’/’She’s Ready To Be Free’ (Elektra EK-45622) Sept 1967

Los Angeles group Clear Light were previously called The Brain Train and under this moniker cut a rare 45, including a much rougher/garage version of ’Black Roses’ on Titan Records.

Maybe they decided to change their name to the hipper Clear Light (after a potent brand of LSD) because they started wearing longer hair, weird beards and love beads.

Whatever the reason, their manager Bud Mathis touted the groups sounds around L.A. record labels and Elektra signed them up.

During the recording sessions with Elektra founding member Robbie Robison departed.

However, he did play on perhaps their finest moment ’She’s Ready To Be Free’ which was recorded during April 1967. He’s also listed/credited on the back of the Clear Light album cover as Robbie Robison ”guru”.

’She’s Ready To Be Free’ was given exposure in the movie ’The President’s Analyst’ where Clear Light have a cameo appearance.

The Knack – ’I’m Aware’/’Time Waits For No One’ (Capitol 5774) Feb 1967

Capitol Records had high hopes for Los Angeles group The Knack, even dubbing them the ’American Beatles’ at one point and spending a fair bit of money promoting this debut single in trade magazines which came in a modtastic colour sleeve.

’Time Waits For No One’ is a catchy pop tune with a strong hook and melody and seems to have been the plug side, although ’I’m Aware’ was a hit in it’s own right in several states.

The Rumors – ’Hold Me Now’/’Without Her’ (Gemcor 5002) July 1965

IMO the best release on the short lived Gemcor label and it proved to be The Rumors only release which is a shame because they had obvious talent and a special garage pop sound.

The mix of Vox organ and surf tinged guitar are a heady brew but sadly nobody else thought so and the single went un-rewarded.  

’Hold Me Now’ can be heard on the Nuggets box set from the 90s, the flip ’Without Her’ sounds even better.

The East Side Kids – ’Take A Look In The Mirror’/’Close Your Mind’ (Orange Empire Records OE-500) 1967

Popular Los Angeles group The East Side Kids played all of the major clubs on the Sunset Strip yet despite a clutch of 45s and an album on UNI they remain relatively unknown.

Perhaps this double sided winner on the obscure Orange Empire label was their best release. It’s certainly their most psychedelic.

’Take A Look In The Mirror’ and ’Close Your Mind’ were co written by future Comfortable Chair member Bernie Schwartz. 

The East Side Kids (or at least most of the band) recorded a 45 as The Sound Of The 7th Son.

The Ashes – ’Is There Anything I Can Do’/’Every Little Prayer’ (Vault V-924) 1966

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Los Angeles folk rock group The Ashes formed in 1965 and polished their sound with a residency at a club called The Waleback in Santa Monica.

By early 1966 they were signed to Vault Records, a small label owned by Jack Lewerke.

The Ashes cut several songs at Gold Star Studios, Hollywood all of which were produced by Richard Delvy from The Challengers.

From these sessions ’Is There Anything I Can Do’ was selected as their debut 45. The full production sound with it’s Phil Spector meets The Byrds arrangement should have been a big hit but it didn’t sell and The Ashes had drifted apart by mid ’66, eventually morphing into The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.

The Roosters – ’One Of These Days’/’You Gotta Run’ (Progressive Sounds Of America PSA 1151) April 1966

Flower Bomb Songs favourites The Roosters hailed from Westchester, a suburb of Los Angeles.

According to lead singer Ray Mangigian, this group of teenagers were hugely influenced by The Byrds and The Hollies in equal measure.

It’s not hard to hear how that influence created some fantastic folk jangle with beautiful harmonies. ’One Of These Days’ is the perfect embodiment of the Sunset Strip sound.

The flip ’You Gotta Run’ is more 12 string jangle but this time is a mournful ballad of sorts. Both sides are KILLER all the way!

When I exchanged emails with Ray last year he claimed that their best moment as a group was performing as the backing band for Sonny & Cher in ’66 at Reb Foster’s Revelaire Club.

Such was this Hollywood couple’s fame, they arrived at the Club’s parking lot by helicopter.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

The David – ’I’m Not Alone’/’Sweet December’ (VMC V716) 1967

The David were a very talented group of teenagers based in the Los Angeles area led by singer/songwriter Warren Hansen.

They had earlier 45 releases on 20th Century Fox before their manager Steven Vail created his own label VMC.

By all accounts The David album ’Another Day, Another Lifetime’ was a very costly affair with a big budget and songs that included elaborate string arrangements and eastern style orchestration.

Favourable comparisons with The Left Banke have ensured that The David have enjoyed a cult following since the 60s.

Both cuts on this 45 were taken from the studio album and both feature their more garage sides, in particular the driving fuzz and Farfisa led ’I’m Not Alone’.

Bobby Jameson – ’Vietnam’ (Tower DT-5083) 1967

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Hollywood antagonist Bobby Jameson could have been a contender but his ability to piss the ’wrong’ people off meant that he’d be left in the shadows of obscurity when his talent was far greater than many of those who succeeded in the music business during the Los Angeles folk rock and psych explosion.

’Vietnam’ is a very powerful anti-war protest song with a great Bo Diddley beat and furious vocals by Jameson. He sounds so fucking angry I believe every word he’s spitting out.

’Vietnam’ was released as a single but probably only as a promo and in very limited numbers. The label was Mira Records 208 – and is virtually impossible to find. In fact several noted record collectors have never even seen a copy.

Fortunately the song was included on the soundtrack album of ’Mondo Hollywood’, Carl Cohen’s cult film from late 1967.

Peter Fonda – ’November Night’/’Catch The Wind’ (Chisa CH 004) March 1967

Here’s an obscure single by actor Peter Fonda on the equally obscure Chisa label set up by jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine.

Both had a hand in producing some Peter Fonda sessions and enough material was recorded for an album, although only these two songs were ever released.

’November Night’ was written by Gram Parsons and can be found on ’Where The Action Is’, the 4 CD release of Los Angeles nuggets on Rhino. The other side is a cover of Donovan’s ’Catch The Wind’.

Sonny And Cher – ’I’ve Got You Babe’/’It’s Gonna Rain’ (Atlantic AT 4035) July 1965

A Los Angeles retrospective would be laughed at without the inclusion of a Sonny & Cher song so flip over the mega hit ’I’ve Got You Babe’ and spin the B-Side ’It’s Gonna Rain’. 

The latter has a wonderfully incessant bass line that bursts through my JAMO dynamic d4e speakers and Bono’s gruff folk punk vocals really shine.

The No-Na-Mee’s – ’Gotta Hold On’/’Just Wanna Be Myself’ (Era Records 3153) Nov 1965

Fantastic double sided garage mayhem from The No-Na-Mee’s who are thought to hail from the Los Angeles area although that could be down to the label they were signed to.

Era Records were a small indie label located in Hollywood and of course released genre defining moments by The Lyrics and Ty Wagner as well as lesser known delights by The Chocolate Tunnel and The Wizards.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

Information from a reader: My brother, Cliff Davis was in this band, he played rhythm guitar. Other members were Clayton Ice on keyboards, Rod Williams on drums, Doug Wareham on lead guitar, his brother Duane Wareham on bass. I hope I spelled everyone’s name correctly after all these years.

Yes they were from Modesto California. I remember how excited they were when they got back from L.A. after this recording.

A highlight of this trip was when they were eating lunch and in walked Sonny and Cher! They also did a recording around this time as backup players for a duo, Jerry and Jan. I have all these records.

Judy Raney: Doug and Duane Wareham are my cousins. I spent many times either sitting in on their practices and going to performances.

They were from the Modesto, CA area. I just chatted with Doug two days ago. They were an extremely talented group of musicians.

Strawberry Alarm Clock – ’Sea Shell’/’Paxton’s Back Street Carnival’ (UNI 55093) Nov 1968

By late ’68 their turned on pop hits had all but dried up but Strawberry Alarm Clock continued to release records but with less fanfare than before and of course lower sales.

That didn’t mean the quality of their music had dipped. I really dig the smooth vocals and sunshine pop of ’Sea Shell’ but this 45 is a must have for the flip ’Paxton’s Back Street Carnival’.

’Paxton’s’ was recorded back in 1967 as part of the album sessions after the big hit ’Incense And Peppermints’. 

For some strange and lazy reason it was resurrected as the B-Side for this 1968 flop. I say strange because Strawberry Alarm Clock had moved on musically and their personnel had undergone some changes, so using old material was a tad regressive.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

’Sea Shell’ must have been a major none seller because it’s probably the most difficult SAC 45 to find. But you gotta seek it out for the mono flip. Way better that the stereo cut on the debut album.

’Paxton’s’ is a pure celebration of a psychedelic street carnival, the lyrics describing the trippy atmosphere and spirit of the hippie mood and frame of mind.

”Your eyes are sparkling
Your mind is moving fast
No need to hurry
The world won’t be floating past.
It will wait for you.”

The Girls – ’Chico’s Girl’/’Dumb Song’ (Capitol 5675) 1965

It’s time for some girl garage action and none better than East Los Angeles combo The Girls who were teenage sisters ’discovered’ by Capitol Records and sponsored by Fender guitars.

They caused quite a stir in and around Hollywood with their tuff rock sound and played several high profile birthday gigs for ’A’ list celebs.

The right contacts also enabled them to appear on TV Shows Hullabaloo and Hollywood A Go Go but sadly no tapes of these performances have surfaced on You Tube yet.

’Chico’s Girl’ has got a full production, it could be said that it’s a garage ’wall of sound’. The subtle use of fuzz is a great touch. The song was written by New York songwriting couple Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

The Avengers – ”I Told You So” / ”Shipwrecked” (Star-burst Records 128) March 1966

One of the many delights of having a music blog, mostly dedicated to 60s garage and psychedelic groups, is that sometimes one of the members of a 45 I review gets in touch with me.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to have made contact with Greg Likins, Gerry Blake and Gary Bernard from the mighty Avengers.

The Avengers were from Bakersfield but recorded most of their music at Gary S. Paxton’s home studio in Los Angeles. ’I Told You So’ is a catchy garage rocker and deserved to be a hit.

The label indicates a B-Side but the song appears to have been the favoured side. It was listed on the KAFY radio chart. It was written by Kenny Johnson who went on to form The Chocolate Tunnel.

’Shipwrecked’ sounds heavily influenced by Northern Ireland band Them, the vocal delivery is pure Van Morrison.

The Flower Children – ’Mini-Skirt Blues’/’Marching Lovers’ (Castil Records 101) March 1967

With a group name like The Flower Children one would expect ’Mini-Skirt Blues’ to be soft flower pop with perhaps male/female harmonies. WRONG; these Flower Children, led by Simon Stokes have a punked up protest anthem on their hands, heavy on the organ, making the whole sonic concoction sound very Seeds like.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

Mr Stokes has got his mini-skirt blues real bad. He’s almost spitting out the words in this rant. The flip ’Marching Lovers’ is more Sunset Strip groove with dumb lyrics and spooky organ.

The 45 also got a release on Allied Records. My copy on Castil Records shows 6 March 1967 stamped on the label. March ’67 may not have been the release date but it shows the record was clearly doing the rounds as early as this.

Gypsy Trips – ’Ain’t It Hard’/’Rock ’N Roll Gypsies’ (World Pacific 77809) Nov 1965

The Gypsy Trips were a folk rock duo comprising singer songwriter Roger Tillison and his vocal partner and sunset strip babe Terrye Newkirk.

They both relocated from dullsville Oklahoma to the bright lights of L.A. and soon after cut the classic psych tinged folk rock winner ’Ain’t It Hard’ featuring the tripped out lyric:

acid in his head

”And your brother’s in the bathroom with acid in his head,
And there’s no place to go cos the town’s all dead.”

(I’ve read elsewhere that the lyric is ’acid in his hand’ but that’s not what Roger is singing in my mind)

’Ain’t It Hard’ was recorded by The Electric Prunes and released as their first 45 in May 1966.

Opus 1 – ’Back Seat ’38 Dodge’/’In My Mind’ (Mustang 3017) May 1966

The cryptically named Opus 1 were a short lived, one single shot group outta Long Beach. Their star shone briefly over Los Angeles and their management even took out a full page advert announcing the release of ’Back Seat ’38 Dodge’ in a May 1966 edition of KRLA Beat.

This advert describes the new 45 on Mustang as ”Bewitching” and I can see why. It’s a swirling surf and garage punk mix with maximum echo in the production.

The flip ’In My Mind’ is just as good but this psychedelic medication is not as immediate. In the end though it didn’t matter because the single failed to sell in large quantities and today remains a sought after disc by 60s garage archivists.

The Smoke Rings – ’Love’s The Thing’/’She Gives Me Love’ (Prospect 101) 1966

The Romancers were a very popular East Los Angeles group playing mostly soul and pop music. From the material I’ve heard by them they didn’t really ’pound’ too much, apart from this garage rocker titled ’Love’s The Thing’ written by the Uballez brothers.

The Romancers disc was released on Linda Records during September 1965 but curiously it was re-released on Prospect Records with a name change to The Smoke Rings. The disc also got distributed on Dot.

The flip ’She Gives Me Love’ has their usual soul pop overtones. But it’s the killer ’Love’s The Thing’ that gets in my L.A. Sounds, Select 50 and quite rightly so.

His Majesty’s Coachmen – ’I Don’t Want To See You’/’Where Are You Bound’ (Gemini G-1004) Aug 1966

This combo, reportedly from Los Angeles, are a complete mystery to me. They’ve rarely had anything written about them and Fuzz, Acid And Flowers even failed to mention His Majesty’s Coachmen.

’I Don’t Want To See You’ is a jangle pop delight and brings to my mind The Dovers. The flip ’Where Are You Bound’ is more jangle sweetness but this time with organ and vocal harmonies.

According to Teenbeat Mayhem this 45 was released August 1967 but the record is highlighted as ’a hit bound sound’ on this radio sheet from August 1966.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

Both sides were written by Dennis Tracy and produced by Dick Shepp at Columbia Studio in L.A.

ARSA has this song charting for one week in Santa Barbara (KIST) in August 1966. Maybe they ploughed the same fields, so to speak, as The Dovers!

The Association – ’Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies’/’Standing Still’ (Valiant V-755) Nov 1966

The Association were virtually unknown in England during the 60s only denting the charts once with ’Time For Living’ (it reached number 23) and that was in May 1968.

In other words none of their American sunshine pop hits such as ’Windy’ or ’Cherish’ got noticed.

The ethereal, eastern tinged ’Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies’ was a risky choice for a 45 to follow ’Cherish’, being about as far out as The Association ever got. 

I happen to love this song as well as The Association so would never do an ’L.A. selected 50’ without them being in it.

“Pandora’s” was recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood but the flip ’Standing Still’ (and the more likely tune with hit potential) was taken from the album ’And Then…Along Comes Mary’ from July 1966.

According to the liners from the Warners/Rhino double Anthology CD set, writer and singer Gary Alexander is quoted:

”Contrary to previous reports, Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies was not about the Sunset Strip night club Pandora’s Box, but rather about Eastern spirituality that fascinated me at the time.”

Shortly after the single flopped Gary Alexander quit The Association and went to India to meditate and smoke banana skins. He returned with a new name – Jules Alexander Heavy. ha ha ha . . . it could only happen in the 60s!!!

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Comments

I had the pleasure of seeing the Association live a couple of years ago (and the smaller pleasure of the Lettermen on the same bill, and the even smaller still pleasure of Gary Puckett), and when I was having Russ Giguere sign my passport (I did not have anything useful for him to sign, and he said he would sign anything)

I asked him when the last time they had played “Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies” live was. He seemed intrigued by the question, looked over to Jim Yester, they both stared at each other for a second or two, and he confidently responded ”about a million years ago.”

So, there you have it. This song has not been played live since before the dawn of human history.

Lovely to run across this thread! I was in my late teens living in California during The Association’s brief but intense peak of creativity (i.e., their first two LPs).

shunned by the hippies

They were shunned by the hippies (as were the Beach Boys, their only rivals in the vocal harmony department).

That was the hippies’ loss – I saw The Association play live twice — at the Monterey Pop Festival and at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Ca., both in 1967.

They were fine musicians, despite the role of ”The Wrecking Crew” on some of their recordings, and the second album, ”Renaissance,” clearly shows a supremely talented group at the height of its powers across the board. 

”Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies” is probably their most powerful single track, immaculately structured and one of the greatest musical depictions of the ego-death-and-transcendence themes associated with LSD.

I would go so far as to call it one of the most outstanding songs of the 1960s — no small distinction. It’s a great shame that it is so little known. Thanks for remembering it!

The Sin Say Shuns – ’All My Lonely Waiting’/’Rain Drops, Tear Drops’ (Venett Records V-108) 1966

According to the liners on the back of their album ’I’ll Be There – Live! at P.J’s in Hollywood’, The Sin Say Shuns formed in late 1965 and quickly made waves as the resident band at P.J’s holding down a record six month stand.

The energetic and overlooked garage beat of ’All My Lonely Waiting’ was their second 45 on Venett Records, a small label from Hollywood.

This is a fantastic tune with it’s driving rhythm and some pretty wild stick action from Bobby Cottle. This is the work of a very tight and efficient outfit.

The flip ’Rain Drops, Tear Drops’ is a slow ballad.

Clark Lunde was in this line-up, sometimes as the lead singer. That is him at the left in your photo.

Besides being the resident band at P.J.’s in Hollywood for a record six months, they also performed at Pacific Ocean Park (P.O.P.), a popular amusement park located in Venice, CA and at several U.S.O. shows in Vietnam among other places.

The Beckett Quintet – ‘(It’s All Over Now) Baby Blue’/’No Correspondence’ (Gemcor 5003) Oct 1965

This combo were previously known as The Epics and gigged extensively in New Mexico (where they all came from).

They even recorded some demos at the famous Norman Petty studios and sometime in early 1965, armed with these demos decided to seek the big time in Hollywood and look for a record deal.

Now calling themselves The Beckett Quintet they got a deal with a new Hollywood label called Gemcor and released this double sided winner in late ’65.

The single must have gained airplay and shifted units because they were interviewed in KRLA Beat and picked up for national release by A&M. Strangely, the major label disc is very hard to find.

According to ARSA radio survey archive, the 45 managed to hit the top 30 on WLOF Orlando, Florida during October 1965.

The flip ’No Correspondence’ has been compiled several times (Pebbles, Garagelands, Journey To Tyme) and is a rudimentary garage classic. The top side and ’hit’ is a cover of ’Baby Blue’ and has that classic Los Angeles folk rock sound.

The L.A. Teens – ’All I Really Want To Do’/’Saturday’s Child’ (Decca 31813) July 1965

The L.A. Teens only released two singles, this one under review being the last. However, a Gary Usher website reveals that the band recorded these songs during May/June 1965 as well as three others that remain unreleased.

The titles of which are ’So Glad’, ’On The Road Again’ and ’Ann Marie’. It’s a shame that The L.A. Teens seemingly recorded material then broke up before the Sunset Strip action really took off because judging by the quality of songs I’ve heard they could have been contenders.

 ’All I Really Want To Do’, made more famous by The Byrds (they recorded their version in March 1965) is a pleasant enough folk rock version with jangly guitar (probably a 12 string) but I dig the moody punk protest of ’Saturday’s Child’ on the flip more.

The Monkees – ’A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You’/’The Girl I Knew Somewhere’ (RCA Victor 66-1004) March 1967

I couldn’t select 50 songs from Los Angeles without including The Monkees. You can love them or hate them but there’s no denying that they made perfect pop records (apart from those sappy ballads sung by Davy Jones).

At the start of 1967 and a couple of million record sales under their wide buckled belts, The Monkees decided that they wanted to be taken seriously and be a fully fledged group in their own right.

They got together at Gold Star studios in Hollywood during January ’67 and recorded Mike Nesmith’s original ’The Girl I Knew Somewhere’ notable for it’s inclusion of a blissed out harpsichord break played by Peter Tork. 

The Premiers – ’Get On This Plane’/’Come On And Dream’ (Faro 624) Nov 1966

’Get On This Plane’ borrows heavily from the bass moves of ’I Can Only Give You Everything’ but the addition of fuzz transforms the beat into a powerful and hypnotic sting of aural pleasure.

Just why records don’t sound as good as this any more fills my head with sadness.

Thankfully, forty years after the fact I can place this 45 on the turntable, crank up the volume and piss the neighbours off with some loud a gritty fuzztone guitar.

The Premiers hit big in 1964 with ’Farmer John’ but then slipped back down the pecking order. ’Get On This Plane’ was almost their last throw of the dice and was written by singer George Delgada and Max Uballez.

Production was carried out by Standells member Larry Tamblyn and East L.A. face Eddie Davis.

The flip ’Come On And Dream’ written by Larry Tamblyn is a reflective piece with sweet background vocals, a clattering tambourine and acoustic guitar. I’m not sure why The Standells didn’t record this one?

The Turtles – ’She’ll Come Back’ (Decca DL 4751) May 1966

I’ve featured the marvellous Turtles on my site a couple of times before archives and they are without question one of the best ever groups from USA and in particular Los Angeles (you may have noticed that I’m gonna focus my attention for a while on L.A. bands or those from neighbouring parts of Southern California).

Here’s a long lost piece of brilliance called ’She’ll Come Back’ written by singer Howard Kaylan. It’s an essential raga folk rock gem with sombre jangle, a sound that some call ’moody’ but I just call ’class’. You’ll find it hidden away on the soundtrack of the film ”Out Of Sight”, a rather low budget beach movie.

”Don’t you worry my friend,
She’ll come back in the end”

Terry Randall – ’S.O.S.’/’Tell Her’ (Valiant Records V-756) Dec 1966

Terry Randall is a bit of a mystery, although this killer protest 45 about the riots on Sunset Strip during November 1966 is a well known tune among garage hipsters. I first heard it on Highs In The Mid Sixties Volume 2 in less than stellar sound.

When I decided to collect original vinyl singles this record was one of the first on my ’wants’ list 

mostly because it’s got a swingin’ garage beat that I dig the most and there’s some great ’cop’ put down lyrics. And no youth digs the cops or the ’filth’ as they’re mostly known in the North of England.

’S.O.S.’ was a chart spotlight pick in Billboard trade magazine during December 1966.

The flip ’Tell Her’ is a teener ballad. Both songs were written by Randy Benjamin.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Further Trips

Many of these tracks have appeared on various podcast mixes. Follow the link provided for enlightenment.

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems: Full list

• BYRDS – I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better (CBS 201796) 8/65
• LOVE – 7 and 7 Is (Elektra EK-45605) 7/66
• DOVERS – People Ask Me Why (Reprise 0439) 11/65
• STANDELLS – Mr Nobody (Tower 282) 9/66
• BONNIWELL’S MUSIC MACHINE – The Eagle Never Hunts The Fly (Warner Bros 1732) 1967
• SEEDS – Up In Her Room (GNP Crescendo 383) 1/67
• HUMAN EXPRESSION – Optical Sound (Accent AC 1226) 9/67
• SONS OF ADAM – Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day (Decca 31887) 12/65
• BEES – Leave Me Be (Mirwood 5503) 1965
• ELECTRIC PRUNES – Are You Lovin’ Me More (But Enjoying It Less) (Reprise 0564) 4/67
• BOBBY FULLER FOUR – I Fought The Law (Mustang 3014) 10/65
• FLOWER POT – Black Moto (Vault V-935) 1967
• W.C. FIELDS MEMORIAL ESB – I’m Not Your Stepping Stone (Mercury 72578) 6/66
• GREEN BEANS – (Don’t Give Me No) Friction (Mercury 72504) 10/65
• CARETAKERS OF DECEPTION – Cuttin’ Grass (Sanctus SS-12) 1967
• HARD TIMES – Fortune Teller (World Pacific 77851) 11/66
• DOORS – The Crystal Ship (Elektra EK-45615) 5/67
• LEAVES – Girl From The East (Mira 222) 5/66
• PALACE GUARD – All Night Long (Orange Empire Records OE-331) 8/65
• SOMEBODY’S CHYLDREN – I’m Going Back To New York City (Uptown 727) 4/66
• MIDNITERS – Never Knew I Had It So Bad (Whittier 504) 1/67
• SEAN AND THE BRANDYWINES – Codine (Decca 31910) 1966
• CLEAR LIGHT – She’s Ready To Be Free (Elektra EK-45622) 9/67

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

• KNACK – Time Waits For No One (Capitol 5774) 2/67
• RUMORS – Without Her (Gemcor 5002) 7/65
• EAST SIDE KIDS – Close Your Mind (Orange Empire Records OE-500) 1967
• ASHES – Is There Anything I Can Do (Vault V-924) 1966
• ROOSTERS – One Of These Days (PSA 1151) 4/1966
• DAVID – I’m Not Alone (VMN V716) 1967
• BOBBY JAMESON – Vietnam (Tower DT-5083) 1967
• PETER FONDA – Catch The Wind (Chisa CH004) 3/67
• SONNY & CHER – It’s Gonna Rain (Atlantic AT4035) 7/65
• NO-NA-MEE’S – Gotta Hold On (Era 3153) 11/65
• STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK – Paxton’s Back Street Carnival (UNI 55093) 11/68
• GIRLS – Chico’s Girl (Capitol 5675) 1965
• AVENGERS – I Told You So (Star-Burst 128) 3/66
• FLOWER CHILDREN – Mini-Skirt Blues (Castil Records 101) 3/67
• PURPLE GANG – One Of The Bunch (MGM K13607) 10/66
• GYPSY TRIPS – Ain’t It Hard (World Pacific 77809) 11/65
• OPUS 1 – Back Seat ’38 Dodge (Mustang 3017) 5/66
• SMOKE RINGS – Love’s The Thing (Prospect 101) 1966
• HIS MAJESTY’S COACHMEN – I Don’t Want To See You (Gemini G-1004) 8/66
• ASSOCIATION – Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies (Valiant V-755) 11/66
• SIN SHAY SHUNS – All My Lonely Waiting (Venett V-108) 1966
• BECKETT QUINTET – (It’s All Over Now) Baby Blue (Gemcor 5003) 10/65
• L.A. TEENS – Saturday’s Child (Decca 31813) 7/65
• MONKEES – The Girl I Knew Somewhere (RCA Victor 66-1004) 3/67
• PREMIERS – Get On This Plane (Faro 624) 11/66
• TURTLES – She’ll Be Back (Decca DL 4751) 5/66
• TERRY RANDALL – S.O.S (Valiant V-756) 12/66
• LYRICS – ‘So What!!’ (Era Records 3153) 11/65
• ADRIAN LLOYD – Lorna (Charger CRG-112) 1965
• GLASS FAMILY – House Of Glass (Warner Bros WS 1776) late 1968
• DIRTY SHAMES – Makin’ Love (Impression 112) August 1966 
• DOVERS – The Third Eye (Miramar 123) 4/66
• PREACHERS – Stay Out Of My World (Sundazed SEP 191) recorded 1965
• LYRICS – Can’t See You Any More (Feather 1968) 2/68
• TURTLES – Outside Chance (White Whale 234) 8/66
• ELECTRIC PRUNES – You’ve Never Had It Better (Reprise RS 20652) 2/68
• RISING SONS – I Got A Little (Sundazed) recorded 12/65
• STANDELLS – Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White (Tower 257) 6/66
• CAL RAYE – I Cry (Runay Records RY-101) 1966
• GENTLE SOUL – Tell Me Love (Columbia 4-43952) rec 1/67
• FIRE ESCAPE – Love Special Delivery (GNP Crescendo 384) 1/67 
• MERRELL & the XILES – Tomorrow’s Girl (Glenn 426) 4/67
• GENE VINCENT – Born To Be A Rolling Stone (Everest Records CBR 1006) 4/67
• BYRDS – My Back Pages (CBS 2648) 5/67
• TURTLES – It Ain’t Me Babe (Pye International 7N.25320) 9/65
• FANTASTIC ZOO – Light Show (Double Shot 109) 2/67
• JEFFERSON LEE – Book Of Love (Original Sound OS-88) 7/69
• POOR – Feelin’ Down (Decca 32318) 5/68
• PEPPERMINT TROLLEY COMPANY – Spinnin’ Whirlin’ ‘Round (Acta 45-835) 1969
• ZODIAC – Aries – The Fire-Fighter (Elektra EKL 4009) 5/67
• MODERN FOLK QUINTET – Night Time Girl (Dunhill D-4025) 4/66
• BEACH BOYS – Cabin Essence (Brother Records) recorded 1967
• THINGS TO COME – Hello (Warner Bros 7228) 9/68
• GIANT SUNFLOWER – February Sunshine (Take 6 -1000) 5/67
• RIPTIDES – Last Wave Of The Day (Tower DT-5083) 1967
• VENTURES – Ginza Lights (Liberty LBY 1323) 6/66
• KALEIDOSCOPE – Keep Your Mind Open (Epic BN 26304) 6/67 
• JAN & DEAN – Folk City (Liberty F-55849) 12/65
• M.F.Q. – If All You Think (Warner Brothers 5481) 11/64
• MAMAS & the PAPAS – Strange Young Girls (RCA Victor RD-7834) 9/66

Top 100 Los Angeles 60s Music Gems

• ARROWS – Apache ’65’ (Sidewalk Records 1) 2/65
• ROSE GARDEN – Next Plane To London (Atco 45-6510) 8/67
• SHINDOGS – Yes, I’m Going Home (Viva V.601) June 1966
• MONKEES – Words (first version) October 1966
• DARIUS – Sweet Mama (Chartmaker CSG 1102) 1969
• RICHARD TWICE – Generation ’70 (Philips PHS-600-332) 1970
• BOSTON TEA PARTY – Words (Challenge 59368) 6/67
• THE BUSHMEN – What I Have I’ll Give To You (Dimension D-1049) 6/65
• PACIFIC OCEAN – 16 Tons (VMC Records V 738) 2/69
• MAGNUM OPUS – Up From The Sea (VMC Records V 737) late 1968
• OCTOBER COUNTRY – My Girl Friend Is A Witch (Epic 5-10320) 4/68
• EDDIE HODGES – Love Minus Zero (Aurora 156) 10/65
• BYRDS – The World Turns All Around Her (Columbia PC 9254) recorded August 1965
• DEVONS – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (Decca 31822) 8/65
• TOADS – Leaving It All Behind (Decca 318470) 9/65
• TANGENTS – Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go? (Impression Records 111) 4/66
• TIME OF YOUR LIFE – Ode To A Bad Dream (Ionic Records 101) 9/66